Synonyms

1. capable, competent. Effective,effectual,efficacious,efficient refer to that which is able to produce a (desired) effect. Effective is applied to that which has the power to, or which actually does, produce an effect: an effective action, remedy, speech.Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy.Efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine.Efficient (applied also to persons) implies the skillful use of energy or industry to accomplish desired results with little waste of effort: efficient methods; an efficient manager.2. operative. 3. telling.

effective

(prenominal)actual rather than theoretical; realthe effective income after deductions

(of a military force, etc) equipped and prepared for action

physics(of an alternating quantity) having a value that is the square root of the mean of the squares of the magnitude measured at each instant over a defined period of time, usually one cycleSee also root mean square

Word Origin and History for effectives

effective

adj.

late 14c., from French effectif, from Latin effectivus "productive, effective," from effect-, stem of efficere (see effect (n.)). Effectively in the sense of "actually" is attested by 1650s. Related: Effectivity.